A Congress leader in the valley, Imtiyaz Parrey was booked by the Kashmir Police for assaulting a female doctor on duty in Sub district hospital, in Hajin, Bandipore district. As per officials, the accused entered the hospital at 11.30 pm where a female doctor was on duty. He directed her to accompany her to his home to see his ailing mother. Eyewitnesses said the accused got furious when the duty doctor refused to accompany him during late hours on July 5th to see his mother. The hospital staff present on duty said that Imtiaz Parrey not only abused the doctor but also her and threatened her of dire consequences.
The man who later identified himself as the Congress leader Imtiyaz Parrey of Sonawari Sumbal threatened me of dire consequences when I refused to accompany during late hours. I asked one of my subordinates to accompany Imtiyaz to see his ailing mother but the Congress leader not only abused me but assaulted me physically, the doctor said. She also said that the accused stooped so low that he slapped her and pulled her hair. “I wept and in a fit of rage, hit him with my sandals, she said, adding that it was a nightmare for her to confront an obnoxious male member during the late hours. It would be in place here to mention that the accused is the son of former renegade commander turned politician Kukka Parrey.
Interestingly it was Imtiyaz Parrey who went to the police station to lodge a complaint against the female doctor, even before she could register her complaint. The doctor also alleged that the Station House officer was biased and was supporting the accused in this case. She also said that she did not feel safe. Given the clout that politicians carry and the culture of impunity, it is natural for the female doctor to feel threatened. Given the facts that have emerged so far in this case, one can safely assume that the politician Imtiyaz Parrey has definitely acted with high handedness and tried to use his political power to force the doctor to come to his home to treat his mother at a very late hour. Chief Medical Officer Dr G M Dar said that no doctor can move out of hospital premises during duty hours. It is obligatory for the attendant to bring the patient into the hospital. I have directed Block Medical Officer to constitute a committee to ascertain the facts, he said. Not only was the doctor acting within rules but also given the situation in the valley, it will be quite unsafe for a female doctor to move out and go to attend a patient late in the night.
The culture of impunity has become quite widespread in the valley in the last few decades. People in positions of power like politicians are often accused of misusing their power since they know there will be no accountability and they will go scot free. There is absolutely no respect for the rule of law and anyone with power or knowing someone with power can indulge with least fear of the law. The present NC- Congress Coalition Govt has particularly seen the worsening of this situation. Given that the present Govt has hardly punished any of its own erring members or ministers, it would be difficult to expect political workers at any level to fall in line and show respect for rule of law. Till culprits are not booked and punished properly, this culture of impunity will thrive. Perhaps the Govt can try to set its record right by allowing justice to be delivered in this case and not let petty political considerations become impediments to the delivery of justice.
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